PHILADELPHIA - As an educator in the Center for Literacy in Philadelphia, Jane McGovern knows first hand how the use of computers can motivate an adult learner.

In the past, adult learners gathered in a classroom for orientation and listened to information pertaining to the program. At the end of the session, they were introduced to computers. Few individuals returned.

McGovern discovered that if the adult learners were introduced to the computers at the beginning and were able to utilize them throughout the orientation, they were more likely to return.

"Many of the people we deal with feel very isolated from the real world because they lack the technical skills. By using the computer, they feel connected," McGovern said.

The adult learners who come to see McGovern are working with Workplace Essentials Skills, designed and created by the National Center on Adult Literacy at University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and distributed online through the Public Broadcasting Service's LiteracyLink website.

The Workplace Essential Skills website is free to anyone and includes online lessons developed by NCAL. Learners log in at www.pbs.org/literacy for interactive activities that are correlated to videos and workbooks. Each learner receives a free online portfolio as well as free technical assistance.

A learner can work with a local teacher or choose one from the list of independent or volunteer teachers. The Web component adds the flexibility to complete lessons at home, the library, community program sites or an adult education center, or whenever learners can find the time to study. CD-ROMs are available for those with slow connection speeds.

"Workplace Essential Skills is perfect for a single mom who can do it on her own time," said Dehra Shafer, the project director for the Pennsylvania Department of Education -- Adult Basic and Literacy Education.

"The important step is to overcome the hurdle of technological fear and to become comfortable with computer culture," Shafer said. "However, it's hard for people to do totally at a distance. It's important to bring them in to actually meet an educator and for computer tutorials."

Workplace Essential Skills encourages learners to self-assess their skills to determine the areas they need to improve. The program consists of four strands of study: employment, reading, math and communication. Topics include resume writing, job applications and interviews, oral and written communication, math on the job, teamwork and customer service.

The learners who register receive a workbook and make appointments to borrow videotapes that accompany the workbook and online material.

The video portion contains 24 half-hour video programs. Each program teaches essential attitudes, abilities and competencies and stimulates critical thinking through real-life work-place scenarios. The video segments are widely available on public television for learners and through statewide learning agencies.

Relevant to today's work place, WES is geared to adults reading at the pre-GED level (6th to 8th grade). Skills are correlated to federally accepted standardized tests for adult education.

"WES is designed to be an innovative solution to the need for basic skills development and technological literacy," said Ashley Del Bianco, NCAL's project director for LiteracyLink. "With its ability to motivate learners and provide in-demand workplace skills, WES is an effective, high quality resource for adults seeking to improve their real world skills and enhance their personal lives."